Construction began in 1914 and the memorial was dedicated at its completion in 1922. It is a Greek style temple with a Roman style attic. It has 36 Doric columns that incline inward to avoid the illusion of a bulging top. The frieze is covered with the names and admission dates of the 36 states in the union at the time of Lincoln's death. Higher up are the names of the 48 states in the union at the time of the monument's dedication. /'Architect Henry Bacon modeled his design for the building after the Greek Parthenon. Built into the design are symbols of Union like the 36 exterior Doric columns representing the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death--the Union he had fought to preserve. Those states are listed on the frieze above the columns. Above those states are listed the 48 states in the Union when the memorial was built, making the memorial a tribute to the Union as much as a tribute to Lincoln himself. Alaska and Hawaii are represented with a plaque on the front steps. The exterior is made of Colorado Yule marble with a walkway made of Massachusetts granite and Potomac River stones. The interior walls and columns are Indiana limestone, the floor Tennessee Pink marble, and the ceiling is made of panels of Alabama marble soaked in paraffin to make them translucent. Dominating the interior is Daniel Chester French's Lincoln statue along with allegorical murals by Jules Guerin, and carved inscriptions of two of Lincoln's most important speeches.' Source: http://areas.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaID=DCNPLM&CU_ID=1